Edexcel GCSE Computer Science (1CP2): papers, Python and grade boundaries

Edexcel GCSE Computer Science papers at a glance

The specification is the Pearson Edexcel Level 1/Level 2 GCSE (9-1) in Computer Science (issue 1, January 2020). There are no tiers, so every student sits the same papers. Paper 1 has five compulsory questions, each focused on one topic area, mixing multiple-choice, short, medium and extended open-response, tabular and diagrammatic items. Paper 2 has six compulsory questions in which you design, write, test and refine programs in the IDE of your choice, answering in Python 3. Pearson provides coding files, a printed question paper and the Programming Language Subset (PLS) both as an insert and electronically.

What each Edexcel GCSE Computer Science paper covers

• Computational thinking: algorithms, following, amending and writing them, and constructing truth tables.
• Data: binary, data representation, storage and compression.
• Computers: hardware, software and the characteristics of programming languages.
• Networks: computer networks and network security.
• Issues and impact: emerging technologies and the effects on individuals, society and the environment, including ethical, legal and ownership issues.
• Problem solving with programming (Paper 2): decomposing and analysing problems, and reading, writing, refining and evaluating programs.

Worked examples in Edexcel style

Data: image file size

A black and white image is 100 pixels wide and 50 pixels high, with 8 bits per pixel. The size in bits, then bytes, is:

Computational thinking: a truth table

Complete the truth table for the expression A AND (NOT B). The result is 1 only when A is 1 and B is 0:

Check it in the Truth Table Generator.

Programming: trace a loop in Python

What does this program print?

numbers = [5, 2, 8, 3]
total = 0
for n in numbers:
    if n > 3:
        total = total + n
print(total)

Only 5 and 8 are greater than 3, so total goes 5 then 13, and the program prints 13. Practise converting between hexadecimal and denary in our Number Systems course, then press Mark to check your answer in the course:

Edexcel GCSE Computer Science grade boundaries

These are Pearson's raw boundaries for the whole qualification, out of 150, from its GCSE (9-1) grade boundaries document for June 2026: the minimum mark at which a grade can be achieved.

How Edexcel GCSE Computer Science differs from AQA

AQA GCSE Computer Science (8525) has two papers of 90 marks, 2 hours on algorithms and programming and 1 hour 45 minutes on theory, with a choice of C#, Python and VB.NET. Edexcel splits it into a written theory paper and a separate 2 hour on-screen programming paper in Python 3. See theAQA GCSE Computer Science guide.

Use the daily paper as a short timed mock

Uni-Sine publishes a free daily paper on theGCSE Computer Sciencetrack. It is a short timed paper of 8 questions worth 25 to 35 marks, not a full Edexcel paper, and it is not written by Pearson. It covers binary, the CPU, Boolean logic, programming fundamentals, searching and sorting, networks, cyber security and impacts, so it supports Paper 1. For Paper 2, write and run your own Python programs.

Common mistakes in Edexcel GCSE Computer Science

• Not running the code on Paper 2. Test with the given files before you finish.
• Off-by-one errors in loops and indexes.
• Describing a loop in words when a trace table is asked for.

Exam answers

The answers and a worked mark scheme come with today's paper once it is marked. We do not publish official or past paper answers. Every question on the daily paper is our own.

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UK · GCSEEdexcel GCSE Computer Science grade boundaries 2026Edexcel GCSE Computer Science June 2026 boundaries: grade 4 was 46, grade 7 88, grade 9 118 out of 150, with 2025 and 2024.